Automate Quality Checks for Title Headings in Google Docs Using Google Apps Script

In today’s fast-paced digital world, maintaining the quality of documents is crucial, especially when dealing with templates that are used repeatedly. Google Apps Script offers a powerful way to automate tasks in Google Docs, ensuring consistency and quality. In this blog post, we will explore how to implement automatic quality checks for title headings in Google Docs using Google Apps Script. This script will access the active document, retrieve headings, and perform necessary quality checks based on predefined criteria.

Setting Up Your Script

To get started, follow these steps to create and run your Google Apps Script:

1. Open Google Docs and Access Apps Script:
   • Open your Google Doc.
   • Navigate to Extensions > Apps Script.
2. Create a New Script:
   • Delete any existing code in the script editor.
   • Copy and paste the following script:

function checkTitleHeadings() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();
  var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();
  var headingQualityIssues = [];

  paragraphs.forEach(function(paragraph) {
    var headingType = paragraph.getHeading();
    if (headingType === DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1 ||
        headingType === DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING2 ||
        headingType === DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING3) {
      var text = paragraph.getText();
      var qualityCheckResult = checkHeadingQuality(text);
      if (!qualityCheckResult.isValid) {
        headingQualityIssues.push({
          text: text,
          issues: qualityCheckResult.issues
        });
      }
    }
  });

  if (headingQualityIssues.length > 0) {
    Logger.log('Quality issues found in the following headings:');
    headingQualityIssues.forEach(function(issue) {
      Logger.log('Heading: "' + issue.text + '"');
      Logger.log('Issues: ' + issue.issues.join(', '));
    });
  } else {
    Logger.log('All headings passed the quality check.');
  }
}

function checkHeadingQuality(text) {
  var issues = [];
  if (text.length > 60) {
    issues.push('Too long');
  }
  if (!/^[A-Z]/.test(text)) {
    issues.push('Should start with an uppercase letter');
  }
  // Add more quality checks as needed

  return {
    isValid: issues.length === 0,
    issues: issues
  };
}

Understanding the Script

1. Accessing the Document: The checkTitleHeadings function begins by accessing the active document and its body content. It retrieves all paragraphs within the document.
2. Iterating Through Headings: The script iterates through each paragraph, checking if it is a heading (HEADING1, HEADING2, or HEADING3). If it is a heading, the script retrieves the text and passes it to the checkHeadingQuality function for validation.
3. Quality Check Function: The checkHeadingQuality function checks the heading text against predefined criteria. In this example, it checks if the heading length is more than 60 characters and if it starts with an uppercase letter. You can add more checks as needed.
4. Logging Issues: If any heading does not meet the quality standards, the issues are logged using the Logger class for debugging and monitoring purposes.

Running the Script

To run the script:

1. Click the play button (▶️) in the script editor to execute the checkTitleHeadings function.
2. Open the View > Logs to see the results of the quality checks.

Customizing the Script

Feel free to customize the script according to your quality criteria. You can add more conditions in the checkHeadingQuality function to suit your specific needs. For example, you might want to check for specific keywords, proper formatting, or other stylistic elements.

Conclusion

Implementing automatic quality checks for title headings in Google Docs using Google Apps Script can save time and ensure document consistency. By defining and enforcing quality criteria, you can maintain high standards across your documents effortlessly. Give this script a try, and customize it to fit your specific needs for even more robust quality control.

For more tips and tricks on using Google Apps Script, stay tuned to our blog. Happy scripting!

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About the Author

Laurence Svekis is a technology educator and author with over a million students learning Google Apps Script and other technologies through his online courses and live presentations. He is a sought-after speaker at technology conferences, sharing insights on leveraging Apps Script and AI technologies.